Results 2,241-2,260 of 3,871 for speaker:Catherine Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Insurance Prices (1 Apr 2015)

Catherine Byrne: 109. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the 24 April 2015 deadline for those over 34 years of age to take out private health insurance before a higher premium is applied; the way this will work in the context of universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13510/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Drug Addiction and Recovery Models: Discussion (26 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the deputation for the presentation. I compliment a former colleague and Deputy, Mr. Pat Carey. Any time he had to deal with this issue as a Minister of State, he always made clear the role of addiction in families. The same applies to the previous Minister of State with responsibility in this area, Deputy Alex White. I will set out where I am going with this. We should have a...

Water Charges: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this motion tabled by members of the Opposition. I want to begin by acknowledging how privileged I am to be one of the 166 Members of this House, elected by people of Dublin South Central, working as a legislator with a single goal in mind, namely, to make this little country of ours a better place to live in, now and into the...

Water Charges: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: -----and carry it back to her family in a plastic container with water that is not always suitable for drinking. This girl and her family know the true value of water. It is precious and gives life, but only if it is clean. Here in our little country, most of us are privileged to turn on the tap in our kitchens and fill our glass with clean purified water. We do not even think of the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I will be brief. This concerns a case I am dealing with to which the Minister of State may be able to respond. In concerns a couple where one partner died owing money to the Department of Social Protection and the remaining partner, who is dying, is repaying it through the old age pension. I was told by the Department that when that person dies the payment will still continue through the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I did so and that was the response I got.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Social Protection: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2015: Committee Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: That was the reply I got back.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I agree with Senator Burke and Deputy Ó Caoláin. I still have neighbours, families and friends crossing the Border or going to England to get cheaper drugs, or coming back from Spain with drugs they cannot even buy in this country without a prescription. That needs to be addressed quickly. I heard Senator Crown speak before about generic drugs, but why are patients less willing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: (Resumed) Alcohol Research Group (12 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I apologise for not being here for part of the meeting. I had to go to my office to meet somebody. I have read the research group's document and I listened to Dr. Holmes's contribution on the monitor in my office. I have three or four questions. This committee receives many documents. This is very much an evidence-based document. I have to say it is one of the most interesting documents...

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhionannas Pósta) 2015: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Marriage Equality) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important Bill. I am 100% behind the referendum because it is all about equality and we cannot and should not measure equality. We are either equal or we are not, and that is basically it. This referendum will ask the Irish people to consider whether Article 41 of the Constitution should be amended so as to allow couples to marry without...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: General Scheme of Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015: Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (10 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Professor Murray for his presentation. We met the other day in room A in Leinster House and I thought his presentation there was excellent as well. In 1997, I visited Canada and toured there with a choir. Our main stay was in British Columbia, and we were taken aback by the fact that in most places we sang people were poor and had drinking problems. One of the biggest problems...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children: Cost of Prescription Drugs: Discussion (5 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I hope to be brief. I thank Ms Maher for her presentation and compliment the local pharmacies. In every community, the local pharmacist is as important to customers as the general practitioner, GP. Many of the questions on generic drugs have been answered, but how does the Irish Pharmacy Union, IPU, explain generic drugs to customers? Whenever people, even family members, speak with me,...

Family Home Mortgage Settlement Arrangement Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (4 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill introduced by Fianna Fáil and acknowledge the situation of people in mortgage distress. I wish there was a quick fix but, unfortunately, there is not. Since taking office, this Government has been working very hard to fix the economy and is making good progress. This is reflected in the growth in international confidence in Ireland....

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Mar 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill which introduces a number of changes to the social welfare system, some of which were introduced in budget 2015. I acknowledge the work being done in this area by the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, and her Department. This Government is very committed to a fair welfare system which supports those who need it most and helps people come out of...

Income and Living Conditions: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (25 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I am very grateful for the opportunity to address some of the points made by Members of the Technical Group in their motion. They paint a very dismal picture of this country and its people, a picture which I reject strongly. Of course, there are still many areas of society that need support and investment, but we have come a long way in the last four years and will continue to do so. I...

Children and Family Relationships Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I warmly welcome the Bill, which is a crucial element of child-centred reform that will amend laws regarding children's rights and child protection. It is about modernising family law and addressing the particular needs of children in the areas of parentage, guardianship, adoption and custody access. I commend the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, on her publication of the Bill and I...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: State Pensions Payments (24 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: 220. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in receipt of the over-80s allowance; the cost of this in 2014; the number of State pension recipients who currently receive an increase for a qualified adult, for a person who is 80 years of age or over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8273/15]

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: The next speaker is Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice who is not in the Chamber. I will go to the next speaker on the list. The Government grouping is: Deputies Fergus O'Dowd, Mary Mitchell O'Connor, Jim Daly and John Paul Phelan. As Deputy Fergus O'Dowd is not present, I call Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Update on Employment Activation Measures: Department of Social Protection (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: Whether it is lone parents or unemployed people, some of the programmes on which the delegates spoke are designed to bring people back into education and training and, particularly, into an employment programme that will ultimately give them secure employment and financial independence. This is very important. Whether one is a lone parent or an unemployed person, accessing training and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Update on Employment Activation Measures: Department of Social Protection (18 Feb 2015)

Catherine Byrne: I thank Mr. Egan for his reply. We will expand on the consistent poverty issue in the next session. Do the officials have statistics for the numbers of people who are lone parents or are in one-parent families who have gone back to education? I have been conducting a study and to quickly run by the figures-----